DUCKS AND WESTERN DUCK-SHOOTING. 187 



setting out on a long migratory flight; but com- 

 ing over a corn-field, they will sail around, shut 

 their wings, and come sloping to the ground. 

 Ducks generally sweep round in a circle before 

 settling down. A pond or little slough in a 

 corn-field is a capital place to lie for ducks. 

 The shooter must lie down on the bank, as in 

 other places. I have killed from three to four 

 dozen ducks in an evening's shooting in a corn- 

 field, and that often. 



One thing I have noticed which will be of great 

 importance to beginners in duck-shooting. It is that 

 they always seem to be nearer than they really are 

 when in flight. Allowance must be made by the 

 shooter for this deceptiveness of appearance as to 

 distance. When 1 have killed a duck, I have often 

 been surprised to find how far it fell from me. 

 One that seemed to be but thirty yards off would 

 turn out to be forty-five. It was not the momen- 

 tum of flight after being hit that could account for 

 this, as such ducks had commonly stopped in their 

 forward progress, and were towering up when shot 

 at. Ducks also seem to be lower than they 

 really are when seen in flight, and this is especi- 

 ally the case in some sorts of weather. In some 

 states of the atmosphere they will seem to be 



